Sifting through the Broncos' needs and options in free agency

The Broncos are among many teams pursuing free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins. The 28-year-old spent the last six seasons with the Redskins. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)

ENGLEWOOD — Something bad, something weird and something not even Broncos general manager John Elway could quite explain happened the week of Oct. 8, 2017. His team that opened the season with a newfound swagger, and a 3-1 record had suddenly come unglued.

That week, the Broncos' bye, spelled the beginning of the end of the team's once-promising season. The offense went into a tailspin and never found its footing. The defense, while stout in most areas, were consistently gashed on big plays. The special teams were anything but special. And the 2017 draft class that held great promise had been reduced to one regular contributor.

Patriots and former Colorado tackle Nate Solder, left, is the top left tackle in free agency but could be out of the Broncos' price range if they sign a veteran quarterback. (AAron Ontiveroz / The Denver Post)

Now, more than two months removed from the 5-11 wreckage, Elway is on a mission to revamp (he'll never say "rebuild"), and it begins this week with free agency and the opening of the trade market.

The league's 48-hour legal tampering period begins Monday, and free agency ensues promptly at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Broncos have numerous holes to fill, none greater than the quarterback position.

Here's what you need to know as the Broncos await the open market:

The ammo

Including the $10.2 million in unused cap space that was rolled over from last year and the $11 million that will be saved when the Aqib Talib trade is made official, the Broncos will enter free agency with nearly $37 million in cap room to add veteran talent, according to the NFL Players Association's records.

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That figure could grow should Elway release or trade away other veterans, like running back C.J. Anderson ($4.5 million savings). In addition, the Broncos will have 11 draft picks to use in potential deals.

The priority

For the past two years, since Peyton Manning's retirement, the Broncos have had a revolving door of quarterbacks, acquired via free agency, the draft and trade market. And they've yet to find a consistent starter.

Elway indicated at the combine that he hopes to find that guy in free agency, though they have plenty of options to bring in a couple new faces. Kirk Cousins, a 28-year-old who spent the first six years of his career in Washington, is atop the list of free agents and may command a record deal, worth around $30 million a year and upward of $90 million in guarantees. It's possible he could seek a shorter-term (three years) fully guaranteed contract instead of the conventional five- or six-year deal of most free-agent quarterbacks. No matter, his price tag should give the Broncos' pause, along with his lack of playoff experience. Denver has plenty of other holes to fill on its roster, and a massive contract when it already has the largest non-quarterback deal (Von Miller's $114.5 million contract) already on its books could cash-strap the team for years to come.

Enter quarterback Case Keenum, a less-expensive starter. Or consider another experienced veteran who could serve as a bridge to the future.

"He's an interesting guy to try to value because he's done more than Brock Osweiler ever did," former agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry said. "He played well for a full season, even though he has a history where you weren't that impressed by him. (Jacksonville's) Blake Bortles didn't necessarily help him. Bortles is a marginally effective starter, in my opinion, but his two-year extension is worth about $17.5 million per year. So between that and Osweiler being at $18 million (per year) ... you're maybe looking at $20 million a year for Keenum."

AJ McCarron, who won his grievance with Cincinnati to become a unrestricted free agent this year, is another player soon to hit the open market. For cheaper options, though, acquiring either of Minnesota's other quarterbacks, Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater, could be considered. So, too, could Josh McCown, the journeyman represented by the same agent (Mike McCartney) as Cousins and Trevor Siemian who could carry the Broncos into the future should they use their No. 5 draft pick on a quarterback.

Denver's moves in free agency could dictate how its spend that pick, which is only the third top-five selection in the Pat Bowlen era, since 1984. (The last two were used on linebackers — Mike Croel in 1991 and Miller in 2011.) Much rides on the team selecting the right player, and should it spend big on Cousins or even Keenum, it may use the No. 5 pick it on another position. A "bridge" quarterback found in free agency or the trade market, however, may prompt Elway to snag one of the top five quarterbacks in this year's class to be their player of the future.

The lingering problem

Last year Elway quietly made of his finest free-agent moves when he acquired Ron Leary, a guard coach Vance Joseph deemed the best on the open market in 2017. The drafting of tackle Garett Bolles provided help on the left side of the line, and the return of Matt Paradis provided an anchor at center.

Though Denver's offensive line improved last season, it still needs help, notably at right tackle. At the recent NFL combine, Elway said he's toying with the idea of moving Leary to right guard and that veteran tackle Menelik Watson will return. But Watson could be used as a swing tackle, leaving a glaring need for a starter, be it the right or left side.

Patriots standout Nate Solder is far and away the top left tackle in free agency and, unless he takes less money to return to New England or opts for retirement, he could command a significant deal from a new team. Corry projects a five-year, $72.5 million deal for Solder, which might put the Broncos out of the running, especially if they spend on a veteran quarterback.

"The problem with Nate Solder is he's the guy at left tackle. There aren't any good left tackles out there besides him," Corry said. "If the guy that the Broncos didn't want last year, Russell Okung, can go out and get the highest average salary for a left tackle, what do you think Solder is going to want?"

Perhaps Cameron Fleming, a right tackle who started in the Super Bowl for New England.

"That might be $6 million, $6.5 million a year given that Mike Remmers, who I'm sure the Broncos are very familiar with, got $6 million a year to go to Minnesota," Corry added. "And Bill Belichick praised Fleming after what he was able to do against the Jaguars' pass rush, so I think he may have made himself some money in the playoffs.

"But you have to do something about the offensive line, because if I'm Cousins, I'm looking at the offensive line and I'm going, 'eh.' "

The defense

The trade of cornerback Aqib Talib was expected, especially as the Broncos exercised the fifth-year option on Bradley Roby's contract. Roby moves up to the No. 2 cornerback spot behind veteran Chris Harris, but the No. 3 cornerback spot — an unofficial starting role — has a glaring void. The dropoff from Roby to Brendan Langley or even Marcus Rios is huge, based on experience alone, and the Broncos are expected to shop around for veteran help.

"The first call I'd make is to Patrick Robinson," Corry said. "He was basically Philly's third corner and they're going to have a hard time affording him. Hopefully he didn't price himself too far out of the market."

The Broncos must also make a decision at linebacker, where starter Todd Davis and backup Corey Nelson are free agents. Elway said he hopes to keep Davis, and Davis earlier said the feeling is mutual. But money talks.

"They probably got a good shot at getting him back because he's a two-down linebacker," Corry said of Davis. "You want to get paid as a linebacker, you got to be a three-down linebacker. It may actually work out in their benefit, because last year you saw guys who couldn't get paid, like Zach Brown and Kevin Minter. Those guys had to sign one-year deals because the market didn't develop the way they wanted it."

The pass-catchers

The Broncos have lacked a reliable third receiver to help Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Cody Latimer, a former second-round draft pick, will be an unrestricted free agent, and Bennie Fowler, an undrafted player, will be a restricted free agent. The team is unlikely to tender Fowler, which will make him unrestricted when the market opens.

The Broncos have third-round selection Carlos Henderson, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve, but they may look for additional help, especially in the slot. Denver might do the same at tight end, where Virgil Green will be a free agent and the group as a whole has been unproductive in recent years.

Jake Butt, a fifth-round pick last year, is expected to be fully healthy when the offseason program begins. Another option in free agency? Tyler Eifert, the former Bengals tight end who has dealt with a string of injuries, but could be a red-zone weapon when healthy. Corry's contract prediction for Eifert: one year, $5 million or one year, $4 million, plus incentives.

Though Elway is still irked by the Broncos' 5-11 unraveling last season, he enters his eighth season as an executive with a slew of options. Something will happen. Something good, he hopes.

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